DOMENICO POVGiulia walks off with my human quickly, and my feet follow behind her. I ignore the pack members looking at me questioningly. I need to go to the bathing stream and wash before I get a headache from the vomit smell on my pelt.I have no explanation at the moment to explain why we went against my own rule. I also can't explain why I brought her back here instead of taking her back to the city.Giulia turns toward the main room, and I pick up my pace. Anger is beginning to blanket my insides. How or why the Creator has chosen to punish me to this extreme is eating away at my brain now that the human is out of my arms.After all the death and pain from losing pack members, I am now supposed to suffer through the death of my mate. Her rapid aging and short life will be tortious for me.I snarl as I step into my personal area of the shared den. Anger and fear have entirely replaced my joy. Everything about my mate is small and weak. Pair that with the fact she won't make it pa
As the sky grows darker, I see Alpha Dom grow more and more anxious. His beautiful green eyes are constantly flicking between the window and his resting sister. After telling us all she knew, The Oracle decided to take a nap to prepare. I sat down near the door, and my mate remained kneeling by her side. As I have watched him, I have grown worried about him. He hasn't shifted his knees once to make himself more comfortable, and his muscles have remained tight. His cheek has been steadily moving due to the pressure he is applying on his jaw, and I am concerned he might blow. I want to speak words of encouragement to him, but I know absolutely nothing about what is to come. If I say, "don't worry, she will be fine," he will look at me like I am just a dumb human. "The sun will set within seconds, Human Taylor and my sister will merge with the creator. If...if the worst happens, do not come near me. I will transform into my Lycan form to release my anger and grief. I do not w
DOM POV I pace back and forth near the hole we made for holding thirsty ones. We have never had a human inside the den before. All talks with humans have been at the mansion or within the human territory.I feel oddly exposed having her inside our rudimentary home. I know humans prefer certain accommodations, but our wild side yearns for this way of living. The freedom and connection to the earth satisfy the inner animal we all are. "This is the hole. Alpha will decide what to do next. You will wait here until that decision is made," Giulia says, and I force my brain to focus on my sense of hearing. I hear my mate's heart rate accelerate, and I instantly feel regret about my decision to house her in such a place, but the pack must not find out who she is. She might mean something to me, but to the pack, she is a liability."It's pitch black. I can't see," my human mate says, and the undeniable fear in her voice makes me step forward."I cannot assist you with that problem. Hu
As I sit at the luxurious dining table, my mind runs through a million different scenarios. Scenarios that change depending on which guy I focus on. Like...never entering the forest and growing old with Nathan. Or maybe mating and living forever as a half-Lycan. Having kids...can I have kids with Dom? If I do stay with him, are we destined to never have children. With Nathan, I could have had one. I also would have been stuck in a job I hated, but a chance at being a mother sounds good. But if I am a Lycan, I will be expected to fight against the thirsty one. I don't know how to fight. Inside the human city, I am safe, bored, but safe. I turn the glass of water slowly as if it's in sync with my wheeling mind, completely ignoring the nosy lycans watching me. I have avoided answering any of their questions and instead asked for some water to buy me some time. They haven't backed off, but they haven't asked again, either. They seem to be waiting for me to crack or ask them somethin
DOMENICO POV I fold my arms and lean against the entrance to the main living area. I try to appear calm and relaxed but my insides are a swirl of different emotions. Lust and longing being the primary ones.I tried to stay in my personal around, but I have realized that I can't stay away from her for very long. Even if she is with Giulia, my most trusted female warrior. I personally have to know she is safe and being taken care of. She may have upset me, but I do not think I could ever stay mad at her. She is too precious, even now.Giulia seems to be warming up to my human mate rather quickly, which I am unsure if I like. Humans have never been creatures that we befriend. We protect them, but their short life spans make it painful to care about them on a personal level."I need to explain something to you," Giulia says with almost urgency in her voice, and I freeze."We can kill them with ease, but sometimes their numbers overwhelm us...Each Lycan lost is devastating to us. Over th
I hug my knees close to my chest as I watch some Lycans wrestle in the courtyard behind the massive castle. I feel so cold, and I don't know why. The air outside is warm, and the sun is hitting the area around me. Ever since my annoyance with Domenico left, I have felt weak and cold. I want to see him and have him hug me, but my pride is telling me to stay away. I shake my head a little to push back my thoughts about my mate. Anytime I even think of his name I begin to obsess about him. Where is he? What is he doing? Is he okay? It's baffling me. I have never felt this possessive or obsessive over someone. Nathan was my best friend and lover, but I could go hours without wondering what he was up to. The lycans I am watching seem relaxed and comfortable. They don't even seem to mind that I am staring at them, and I am glad. I would hate to be told I need to go back inside. I am tired of counting the lines in the wood. I needed something else to stare at. Something moving and alive
"What are you doing with that," I ask slowly as I see my family's picture in my mate's hand. She jumps like a frightened bunny, and the picture goes flying toward the fire. Thankfully Alessia snags it before it can be lost to the flames. My mate turns to face me with a horrified expression, and I react before I can stop myself. I grab her arms and lift her to her feet. Fully intending to kiss her full lips, but reality hits me in the face just in time to stop me. "I will escort you outside. You may go as far as the stream. Any farther isn't safe. Sunset is an hour away, and bloodsuckers are unpredictable when they smell a human. A group of them might be dumb enough to enter my den," I manage to say, and her beautiful blue eyes grow even larger. She nods after a few moments and tucks her hands into the pockets of her pants. "I won't go that far. I just need some vitamin D," she says in a voice meant for humor, and confusion riddles my brain. Her body language is su
I feel so giddy. Domenico has asked me to dine with him. After telling his pack about me, he hasn't really left my side. He constantly observes me without saying anything unless it's a question about my life. I have covered everything about my short life, and he seems to be soaking it in. Not just soaking it in, actually, but intrigued. But it is confusing to me since I have only ever lived in one place. I haven't seen very much of the world, and since I am so young, life is a challenge. Compared to me, he is sophisticated and cultured. But I am still excited to spend time with him. The Oracle, Alessia, and Giulia have gone to great lengths to get me a summer dress from the city. So for the first time since telling his pack, I am his mate, Domenico isn't by my side. My two bodyguards are. "Yellow is a good color for your skin," Giulia says while looking like a fashion credit. She has circled me twice while holding her chin, and my nerves are shot. They won't let me see wh